Trap door amusement game

ABSTRACT

An amusement game is disclosed that includes a skilled based feature that allows players to try to time the activation of a pressure sensitive switch at the same time a light is illuminated at a target position, and if the player accurately times the activation of the switch, a central proceeding unit sends a signal to a stepper motor to energized and completely open a door that is mounted in a horizontal plane by pivoting downwardly. The door is designed to supports a prize that will be distributed to a player. If the timing is not precise, a signal is sent to a central proceeding unit to incrementally open the door. As the door continues to be opened, any prize that is supported by the door will eventually distributed as the door is allowed to be directed to the prize to a receiving area. Sensors provided on the door detect the absence of a prize on the door and send a signal to a central processing unit to activate a claw mechanism that transfers prizes from a retaining area to a position on said door.

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Application No. 61/401,941. The present invention is directed to anamusement game where the object of the game is to win a prize byaccurately timing the activation of a switch to correspond with theposition of a light at a target location that is sequentiallyilluminated around a dial. The game includes a light dial for game play,a bulk storage area for prizes, a prize chute, a trap door connected tothe prize chute on which a prize that is play resides, and a clawmechanism for delivering prizes from the bulk storage area to thesurface of the trap door. After a prize has been distributed, the clawmechanism is activated to engage a prize from the bulk storage area anddeliver the prize to the trap door. To win the prize that has beenplaced on the trap door, a player tries to time the activation of aswitch when the light is at or near the target position. The activationof the switch when the light is illuminated at the exact target positionwill cause stepper motors to be activated that will open opposite doorflaps completely, wherein the flaps are oriented in a verticalorientation. In the event that the switch is activated when the light isilluminated at a position near the target position, the opposite doorflaps are incrementally opened from an existing position to a furtheropened position. As the flaps are incrementally opened they willeventually reach a position that allows the prize to fall through thedoors to an area accessible to the player.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the light dial feature of the first embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the prize chute and trap doorassembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the claw and claw travel assembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the track element and engagement of thetrack element by the claw travel assembly.

FIG. 6 is a side view of top portion of the device including the clawassembly, the claw travel assembly, and the light dial suspended fromthe top of the device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a claw assembly according to the firstembodiment of the invention in an open position.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the claw assembly depicted in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the claw assembly depicted in FIG. 7 with thecontact plate displaced toward a claw arm support member.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the claw assembly depicted in FIG. 7 with thecontact plate displaced toward the claw support member and the claw armsin a closed position.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram depicting the various electronic devicesused in the invention in communication with a central controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now referring to FIG. 1, a front view of a first embodiment of theinvention is depicted showing light dial display 101 that is positionedin the center of cabinet 103. The cabinet 103 has transparent panels inits side walls including front door panel 104. Light display dial 101 issupported from the top 105 of cabinet 103 and by prize chute 107. Frontsidewall 109 of prize chute 107 is made of a transparent material suchas glass, plexiglass or other transparent synthetic resin to allow theplayer to inspect a prize that may be located on trap doors 113 and 114in the prize dispensing position. A claw 120 is depicted in a homeposition behind light dial 101. Surrounding prize chute 107 is a bulkstorage area that is defined by the sidewalls of the cabinet and theexterior sidewalls of the prize chute 107. The bulk prize storage areamay be inspected by prospective players through transparent wall panelsof the game cabinet. The bulk storage space may be accessed by door 140which is secured by lock 145.

Now referring to FIG. 2, the light display dial 101 includes 35 lightsarranged in 35 locations around the dial. When the game is activated, alight chases around the circle, sequentially illuminating each light.The player pushes a button or switch to try to stop the light at awinning position that has been indicated on the dial. If the light stopsin the center jackpot target position 205, the prize doors completelyopen to release the prize through the trap door. If the player stops thelight near but not on the target jackpot position, such as at position207 identified as “4× crank,” the doors incrementally open apredetermined amount. Adjacent to the “4× crank” position 207 is “2×crank” position 209. If the button is activated so that the light stopsin this location, the doors will open a predetermined distance that isless than the 4× crank distance. 4× crank positions and 2× crankpositions are also provided on the opposite side of the dial that alsocorrespond with the same predetermined distances. The remainder of thepositions, such as position 20, are identified as “1× Crank.” In theevent that a player activates the switch at a time corresponding to thelights passing by the positioned that have a value of 1×, the doors willopen a smaller distance than the distance the doors will open when thelight is stopped at positions that correspond with larger values. Theprize can therefore be won eventually by the successive play of thegame, wherein each play will opens the door some distance until the dooropening is wide enough to allow a prize to fall through. If a playerleaves the machine before winning a prize, the doors remain in the sameposition where the last player left the game. A prize that is releasedfrom the trap doors is directed to a prize access area that may beaccessed by a player.

Now referring to FIG. 3, the prize chute 107 contains two doors 113 and114 each or which cover half of the chute opening when in a closedposition. These doors 113 and 114 can form a plane that is horizontaland parallel with the support surface on which the amusement game isplaced. Counterweight 141 is provided on opposite side of the door shaft145 on the opposite side of door 113 to overbalance the door toward theclosed position. The door 113 can pivot on shaft 145 that is attached toone side of the door. One end of shaft 145 is seated in opening 160which allows for pivotal movement. On the opposite side shaft 145extends through spur gear 150 and into pin plate 120. Worm gear 148drives spur gears 150 and 151 that are attached to the door shafts 145and 146 and to open and close the trap doors. The spur gears 150 and 151float on the pin plates that are fixed to the door shafts 145 and 146and thereby allow for limited concentric movement. When a prize ispositioned on the doors 113 and 114 in chute 107, the weight of theprize causes the shaft that is attached to the door to rotate within thespur gear until it reaches a stop (about 5 degrees). When the door isrotated to this position, a flag mounted on pin plate 170 interrupts anoptical sensor 172, which is mounted on spur gear 150 indicating thepresence of a prize. At the same time, flag 180 is displaced frominterfering with the light from light detector 182 which assists withthe detection of the doors when they are at the closed home position.When there is no prize in the chute the counterweight acts to rotate theshaft within the spur gear toward the closed position and flag 180passes through the photo detector 182. This signal is sent to thecontroller which in turn activates the claw assembly. The doors areprevented from further movement by a stop 185 attached to the rear ofchute 107. The closed position is also detected by an optical sensormounted on the chute that detects the presence of a pin 190 that isprovided on the pin plate. In an alternative embodiment the pins areprovided with a reflective material that transmits infrared radiation toa photo detector. The optical sensors include a light source such as aninfrared light source or LED and a photo detector. The photo detectorstransmit a signal to a central processor when light impinges on itssurface. When an object is placed between the light source and the photodetector, no signal is transmitted and the processor will detect theabsence of a signal. The counterweight 141 causes the door to becompletely pivoted to a closed position. Thus, when a prize is placed onthe trap doors, because the drive shaft is connected to the spur in afloating arrangement, the doors may be displaced slightly downwards. Theposition of the doors may then be detected by the optical sensor 172.The home and closed position of the doors, is reflected by the presenceof the flag 180 within optical sensor 182. While the flag may remain inthe optical detector, the weight of the prize will slightly displace thedoors downward which is detected by sensor 172. Upon the reception of asignal from detector 172, the game is ready for play and the controllerwill accept a signal from the credit switch permitting play. The spurgear which controls the opening and closing of the doors is driven byworm gear 148 which is connected to sprocket 162 that translates powerfrom stepper motor 193 via drive belt 195.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a spring loaded claw assembly 401 and clawtravel assembly 404 is used to load the prizes into prize chute 107 froma bulk storage location within the cabinet that surrounds the sides andrear of the prize chute. The bulk storage area is generally a U shapedregion that surrounds the sides and rear of chute 107. The claw travelassembly 404 includes a drive roller 409 and track guide pin 411 that isattached to a claw support plate 413. The drive roller 409 is powered bydrive stepper motor 410 and is activated by the controller. A pulley470, which can wind and unwind line that connects the travel supportplate portion of the travel assembly to the claw assembly 401 inresponse to signals from a central controller, is powered by pulleystepper motor 421. The pulley stepper motor is also controlled by acentral controller. Also provided with the claw travel assembly are topstabilizing wheels 425 and 426 and bottom stabilizing wheels 428 and430. These stabilizing wheels engage the top and bottom of the trackplate element 420.

As seen in FIG. 5 the track guide 411 on the claw travel assembly 404 isreceived in track groove 417 that is provided in upper track plateelement 420. Track plate element 420 is suspended from the top of thecabinet by spacers 421 and bolt 425. A home position optical sensor 430is also provided on the track plate element 420 which detects when theclaw assembly is in the home position. The travel drive roller 409 ispowered by stepper motor 421 and controlled by a central processor.Because the device uses a stepper motor, the controller can accuratelydetermine the location of the claw assembly based upon the steps takenby the motor from the home position. Upon the detection of the absenceof a prize on the trap doors, as reflected by signals from detectors172, 182 and 195, the claw travel assembly 404 will travel from the homeposition to a first position over the bulk prize storage area and stop.Next spool 470 will unwind line dropping the spring loaded claw 401toward the prize storage area. Upon contact, a trigger releases thecompression on a spring and the opposite arms of the claw may engage anyprize that is within the range of the arms.

After the spring is released, the claw assembly is retracted to a firstposition wherein the flanges 781 and 782 of vertical support plate 752and 753 contact the claw travel assembly support ring 452. Next the clawtravel assembly, including the claw is driven by stepper motor 421 to alocation above the prize chute. The location of the chute with respectto the claw travel assembly is tracked by the number of steps that thestepper motor has incremented from its home position. In contemplatedembodiments, additional detectors may be provided adjacent to the trackto detect the presences of the claw travel assembly. When the clawassembly is above the prize chute, the pulley motor is again activatedto further reel in the line. As the flanges 781 and 782 engage supportring 452, the springs on the guide rods are compressed and the arms ofthe claw pivot thereby releasing any item caught between the arms of theclaw causing the item to fall into the chute and on to the trap doors.This procedure essentially cocks the spring loaded arms. Accordingly, asthe springs are compressed, the trigger is locked and maintains the clawarms in an open and loaded position. If the controller does not receivea signal from the optical sensors that reflects the presence of a prizeon the trap doors, the motor is again energized for a calculated numberof steps which causes the claw assembly to travel to a second positionabove the bulk storage area, and the claw is again lowered and the armsspring closed upon contact. This process is repeated until a prize isdetected so that the claw assembly may be positioned at numerouspredetermined locations above the bulk storage area until the controllerreceives a signal that reflects that a prize has been released onto thetrap door. If after a predetermined number of attempts no signalreflecting a prize has been received in the prize chutes, the processorwill interpret the condition of the machine as empty and the processorwill deactivate the power. If a prize is detected on the trap doors, theclaw assembly will return to the home position and the play may begin bythe activation of a credit switch. The home position includes an opticalsensor wherein the controller receives a signal to reset a counter thattracks the incremental activation of the stepper motor.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the claw is depicted in the open and lockedposition and includes arms 701 and 702 which have engagement fingers 709and 711. The claw is locked by the engagement of claw level trigger 713by fixed bearing 720, floating lock disk 722 and fixed bearing 724. Tolock the claw in the cocked position, coiled springs that are placedaround claw guide rods 731 and 732 are compressed between vertical plate740 and horizontal base plate 742. As the pulley retracts line 750, thecoiled springs (not shown) that are positioned around claw guide rods730 and 731 are compressed between vertical plates 752 and 753 andhorizontal base plate 742. As horizontal base plate 742 moves towardsthe vertical plates 752 and 753, the bearing 712 rolls along fixedbearing 720 and pushes floating lock bearing 722 upwards. After thediameter of the trigger bearing 712 passes floating lock bearing 722,floating bearing falls to a position where it is supported by ledge 789provided through vertical plate 752, fixed bearing 724 and triggerbearing 712 and locks the trigger in place.

When contact plate 745 comes into contact with an object, such as aprize or the bottom surface of the bulk surface area, the contact platerod 760 lifts lock bearing 722 from ledge 789. When lock bearing 789 islifted a predetermined distances, the trigger is activated, allowingbearing 712 to pass by fixed bearing 720 and lock bearing 722 andcompression spring is allowed to release and expand causing the supportplate 742 and vertical plates 752 and 753 to separate. As the platesseparate, control linkage 765, which is attacked to the vertical plates752 and 753, pulls the point of attachment 767 on the linkage. As seenin FIG. 10, as point of attachment 767 is pulled around axis 780 bylinkage 767, the fingers 709 swing downward and mesh with oppositefingers 711. In the event that a prize is in the path of the arms, theprize may be engaged and retained by the claw wherein the springs biasthe arms in a closed position.

As discussed above, after the arms are triggered; the pulley motorreverses and lifts the claw assembly up and away from the bulk storageplatform to a first position. The drive motor is then activated and theclaw travel assembly is driven to a position above the prize chute. Asdiscussed above, the claw that is disclosed herein uses a spring todrive the claw arms closed. A pulley motor 421 moves the claw assemblyup and down by either releasing or taking up line 477. When the claw isdriven upwardly to a first position wherein the flanges contact supportring 452, the stepper motor is presented with a load that is detected bythe processor. The position of the claw assembly can alternatively bedetermined by the counting of the incremental steps of the stepper motorby the controller. The claw can then be lowered into the prize area.When the contact plate located at the bottom of the claw contacts aprize, the trigger is unlocked, allowing the springs to force the clawarms closed, capturing a prize. When the claw is raised up again beyondfirst position, the claw is again opened, releasing any prize that mayhave been engaged by the arms over prize chute 107 and resetting to aloaded position. The claw disclosed is particularly effective atengaging plush items that are used as prizes positioned in the prizebulk storage area. The claw assembly is moved over bulk storage area andchute by traveling on a track located at the top of the machine.

Now referring to FIG. 11, the device includes central controller 905that receives input from numerous components including a coin acceptor,or dollar bill acceptor that will detect the presence of genuinecurrency, coins or tokens and provide a credit. A credit activationswitch 909 which will activate the game play control switch 911. Asdescribed above, the game play control switch 911 is activated to try tostop the chasing lights at a predetermined target location. Thecontroller of the device further includes feedback signals from trapdoor optical sensors 195, 172 and 182 that detect the location of thetrap doors. Also depicted is input from the claw assembly including homeposition detector 410. The controller transmits control signals to thegame play field lights 141 on light dial 101, the game trap door motor193, the claw drive motor 410, the pulley motor 421 and decorativepatterned lights 909 that are used in an attract mode on signagerelating to the game (not shown). A power supply 950 is also depictedthat energizes the controller and the electronic components of the game.

While the claw that is disclosed herein is a spring loaded device, thetrap door feature of the device can be used in combination with otherprior art claw engagement devices that are typically used in cranemachines. While the spring loaded arms have certain advantages asdiscussed herein, it is contemplated that prior art crane claws thathave a control such as a solenoid may also be advantageous used with thetrap door controlled prize chute. However, claws that are controlled bya solenoid may be more expensive to make, are more complicated tocontrol and require drive energy such as electricity, delivered to thesolenoid. An alternative prior art claw that may be used in connectionwith the invention uses an air powered piston to close arms of the clawwhich is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,344,789 and which is incorporatedby reference herein. In yet a further contemplated embodiments, theengagement of the prize or other items within the game cabinet in mayuse a vacuum engagement. In yet further contemplated embodiment theprizes may be introduced to the trap door by a chute located above thedoor.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forminga part of this disclosure. While a specific embodiment of the inventionis shown and described in detail herein to illustrate the application ofthe principles of the invention, it will be understood that theinvention may be embodied otherwise without departing from suchprinciples. For example, while an embodiment of the present inventiondiscloses a device wherein the player attempts to time the activation ofa switch to correspond with a chasing light at a target position, otherof exercises of skill, including timing games, shooting games, triviagames, games that involve successfully hitting a target, may also beemployed with a trap door prize distribution feature of the invention.Upon the successful exercise of any game, the trap doors as describedmay be opened, either completely or incrementally. Likewise, the clawmechanism may be advantageously used in connection with other amusementdevices or other distribution machines such as vending machines.

In yet further contemplated embodiments, the opening of the trap door,or the degree that a trap door may be opened, is determined at random.For example, in place of the chasing lights, a plurality of rotatingwheels such as those provided on a conventional slot machine may be usedto control the opening of the trap door. If a jackpot is won, the trapdoors will completely open; if the player achieves a partial win, suchas the matching of a plurality of identical icons but not all the icons,the door may be opened incrementally based upon the upon the respectivevalue of the partial win. For example, if two out of three icons match,the doors may be incrementally opened.

The player's ability to inspect the prize at the doors incrementally areopened is an exciting feature of the game that attracts players tocontinue to play until the prize is distributed. A player that initiatesplay will not want to leave the doors in a partially opened statebecause the game machine it may appear to be close to distributing thewinning the prize. There is therefore an incentive for a player tocontinue to play when the doors are in a partially opened positionbecause it will provides an advantage to the next player who may beunrelated to the previous player of the name.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to bepreferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, beunderstood that various modifications and changes in form or detailcould readily be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited tothe exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed tocover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

We claim:
 1. An amusement game comprising a prize retaining area forreceiving and storing a plurality of prizes, a prize moving element, formoving prizes from said prize retaining area to a prize chute, saidprize chute further comprising a door mounted to open and close accessto said chute, said door further having an engine for incrementallyopening the door.
 2. The amusement game recited in claim 1 wherein saiddoor is incrementally opened by said engine upon the successfulexecution of a skilled-based task.
 3. The amusement game recited inclaim 1 wherein said skilled based task comprises the activation of aswitch when a light is illuminated at a target position.
 4. Theamusement game recited in claim 1 wherein said prize moving elementcomprises a mechanical claw.
 5. The amusement game recited in claim 1wherein said mechanical claw further comprises opposite spring biasedopposite arms and a trigger element, wherein when said trigger elementis released, said springs cause said arms to close together.
 6. Theamuse device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a centralprocessing unit and a least one door position sensor, wherein saidsensors provide a signal to a central processing unit relating to thepresence of a prize on said door.
 7. The device as recited in claim 2further comprising a credit sensor and a game activate switch, saidcredit sensor in communication with a central processing unit whereinsaid central processing unit will activate said game switch in responseto the detection of a credit to allow for the play of said skilled basedgame.
 8. The device recited in claim 7 wherein said skill based gamecomprises a plurality of lights that are sequentially illuminated and aswitch that may be activated by a player, wherein the object of the dameis to activate the switch when a light is illuminated at a targetposition.
 9. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising acabinet including a transparent window that encloses said prize area andthe top portion of said prize chute.
 10. An amusement device comprisingat least one door that is oriented in a horizontal plane when in aclosed position, said door functions to separate a passage to a prizechute and when in a closed position to support a prize, said doormounted to allow to allow for pivotal motion having a first sideattached to a frame and an opposite second, said door further mounted toprovide for the incremental opening, wherein the second side may pivotfrom said closed position in incrementally distances downwardly, andwherein when said door is allowed to pivot past a threshold point, anyobject on said may be released from said door and allowed to fall into aprize chute and prize access area.